From the Dean

Fall on campus is a time of new beginnings. We extend a warm welcome to incoming UC President Robert Dynes, knowing that although he will be facing many challenges — from budget woes to affirmative action issues — under his leadership the University will continue its tradition of excellence.

Times may be tough, but we are still building new buildings (like the new Stanley Center), and our gifted engineers are always finding ways to make this world a better place for us all. You will read about many exciting projects in these pages, from the construction of the largest building on campus in two decades to our development of the smallest ever sensor motes, a primary focus of our researchers at CITRIS, the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society.

We are installing motes in fire helmets, attaching them to treetops, and placing motes in birds’ nests and in weather stations. These tiny wireless sensors hold the power to make inanimate objects smart, to help us better understand our world and each other, and even to help save lives. These are not merely new gadgets, but a new technology family that holds immense promise for improving the quality of our lives.

We hope you like Forefront’s new look and that you’ll help us with the magazine’s ongoing evolution. Future plans include the addition of letters to the editor, so please click here for the appropriate links to send us your letters, your class notes, and your ideas. We are intent on making Forefront your magazine. Whether you are near or far, a recent graduate or have been around a while, working in an engineering field or not, we’d very much like to hear from you.

A. Richard Newton
Dean, College of Engineering and the
Roy W. Carlson Professor of Engineering

FOREFRONT takes you into the labs, classrooms, and lives of professors, students, and alumni for an intimate look at the innovative research, teaching, and campus life that define the College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

Published three times a year by the Engineering Public Affairs Office. Have a comment about Forefront? E-mail your letter to the editor. Click here to learn more about the magazine.